Claim that crappy iPhone service is Apple’s fault is bunkum (Updated)

A New York Times report over the weekend says the poor design of the iPhone's …

iPhone users all over the US generally agree that AT&T's 3G service is nowhere near as stellar as the company claims—we have seen the look on iPhone users' faces when an AT&T commercial brags about the "fastest 3G network." But a recent report concludes that the blame is on Apple's shoddy design, not inadequacies of AT&T's network. We're not convinced this data supports such a conclusion though.

The conventional wisdom, espoused by AT&T's own top executives, is that AT&T simply has not built its network out in the US to support the growing tide of data traffic coming from increasingly popular smartphones. AT&T Mobility's Ralph de la Vega pointed to the iPhone as a top contributor to this problem, even while admitting that the networks in San Francisco and New York City aren't up to AT&T's standards.

However, The New York Times is now trying to make the case that the problem is the iPhone itself, and not AT&T's network. Its report cites two studies that say AT&T has the best network around: one is from Global Wireless Solutions, which counts AT&T, but not Verizon, as a client, and claims that AT&T's network consistently managed data rates "40 to 50 percent higher than the competition." Another study is from Root Wireless, which uses a background application—which cannot run on the iPhone—to collect data from "continuous network tests." Its results suggest that AT&T has "faster average download speeds and [has] signal strength of 75 percent or better more frequently than Verizon."

The NYT also cites a Nielsen analyst who points the finger directly at the iPhone's cell radio hardware. Roger Entner, senior vice president for telecommunications research at Nielsen, told the NYT that the iPhone has shortcomings that "affect both voice and data." Consumers believe that Apple, and therefore the iPhone, is infallible, according to Entner, and so then assume AT&T is to blame for the problems.

We disagree wholeheartedly with Entner's claims, however. Hardware has been blamed before for the iPhone's sketchy 3G reception, though there is no evidence to support that theory. We also find it hard to believe that the iPhone 3GS wouldn't have improved reliability on AT&T's network if the cell radio hardware was at the root of the problem. Furthermore, iPhone users in other countries do not report the same problems that US users do—if hardware is indeed the problem, why don't those users report reception or data rate issues?

Unfortunately, the evidence that the iPhone itself is to blame just doesn't add up. The iPhone may be largely responsible for an unexpected growth in data use, and based on our own experience—try using an iPhone during Macworld Expo or SXSW, for instance—we believe this is causing AT&T headaches. Whether AT&T's network is the "fastest" or "most reliable" or any other accolade is perhaps a matter of debate, depending on your service area. But a lack of consistently reported issues outside the US points the finger squarely at AT&T and its network.

UPDATE: We have had a number of readers comment on the forums and directly via e-mail that the problems experienced by AT&T customers in the US aren't experienced elsewhere, including the UK. However, a reader pointed us to this CNET UK editorial complaining about dropped calls and lousy service in dense areas of the UK.

A source—who requested we not reveal his identity—told Ars that the problem isn't the cell radio hardware, nor the network infrustructure, but an issue with the way that the iPhone OS conserves power. All iPhone apps, including Phone.app, cause the radio to switch from "active" to "idle" mode when accessing the network far more often than traditional phones do. This causes the signaling channel, responsible for such functions as SMS messaging, initiating, maintaining, or ending a phone call, voicemail notifications, and DHCP requests, to become overloaded.

"This can lead to odd effects," the source told Ars. "For example, you could be in an area with perfect 5-bar reception, but because the signalling channel is overloaded your phone won't ring and calls go into voicemail." Our source also said that the iPhone was the first phone to cause this particular problem, but that Android and webOS phones have had a similar effect.